Cairo Tower
Cairo Tower is 187 m tall, stands on Gezira Island in Zamalek and was completed in 1961. Its open-air deck gives a 360-degree view of Cairo, and a visit takes 45 minutes to 1 hour; arrive an hour before sunset.
From Gezira Island in the middle of the Nile, the Cairo Tower climbs 187 metres. It was completed in 1961 to a design by the Egyptian architect Naoum Shebib, and its concrete latticework is meant to evoke a lotus, the ancient emblem of Egypt.
The story often told is that the United States gave President Nasser money to win him over, and that he spent it on this tower as a highly visible answer. True or not, the tower became an icon of modern Cairo.
A lift runs up to the open-air observation deck close to the summit, where the view sweeps 360 degrees over the river, downtown, the Citadel and, when the air is clear, the Pyramids of Giza. There is a revolving restaurant and a café up there too.
What to see
- The open-air observation deck
- The Nile bridges, downtown and the Citadel below
- The Pyramids on the skyline on clear days
- The revolving restaurant
Visiting
- Opening hours: daily from morning until late at night
- Tickets: sold at the base; queues build around sunset
- Best time: an hour before sunset, to see the city by day and lit up after dark
- Time needed: 45 minutes – 1 hour
- Nearby: Qasr al-Nil Bridge, Cairo Opera House, Tahrir Square
Getting there
Coordinates: 30.0458, 31.2244
Frequently asked questions
Can you see the Pyramids from Cairo Tower?
Yes, but only on clear days. Cairo is often hazy, and the clearest views tend to come in winter or after a windy day.
When is the best time to go up Cairo Tower?
An hour before sunset, so you see the city in daylight and then lit up. Queues at the ticket desk build at sunset.
How tall is Cairo Tower?
187 metres. A lift takes you to the open-air deck near the top, which also has a revolving restaurant and café.